Improve Your Aim

Golf is most fun when your natural shot shape fits into the field of play. Doing that—seeing a course fits your eye—depends on how you aim. I see amateur golfers all the time who have decent swings, but they can't aim correctly. — Joe Plecker, Director of Instruction, Landings Club, Savannah, Ga., Golf Digest Best in State Teacher

  • Stand on the target line so the ball between you and the target.
  • Assess where the trouble is and determine the widest safe area for your shot.
  • Find a specific spot in the middle of that safe area to use as your target.
  • Keep your eyes on the distant target as you walk into your position.
  • Trace your eyes back from the distant target to find an intermediate target.
  • Look for a spot or piece of grass just in front of your ball.
  • Match your clubface to the intermediate target just in front of your ball.
  • Take your setup position with your body parallel to the clubface alignment.
  • You can check your distant target, but align using the near target.
  • Keep your mind focused on the distant target during your swing.
  • Your setup is static, but your swing should be reactive to the target.
  • Swing thought: Swing and stretch towards your distant target